Imitation fire



March 3, 1931. c. H, ARCHER IMITATION FIRE Filed July 7, 1927 J71 vs7115/: c AarZeJ l /e rlverl Arc/ er Patented Mar. 3, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CHARLES HERBERT ARCHER, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TOAUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LIMITED, OF LIVERPOOL,ENGLAND IMITATION FIRE Application filed July 7, 1927, Serial No.204,119, and in Great Britain July 15, 1926.

' The present invention relates to imitation fires by which is to beunderstood apparatus of the type arranged to simulate the effect of aburning coal fire. It is known to employ for this purpose electriclamps, which may be coloured and the heat from which is adapted torotate fans or vanes which intermittently intercept the light so as toproduce a flickering effect. Various arrangements have also beenproposed for the use of coloured lumps of glass, and screens havingirregularly shaped holes, together with reflectors in various positionswhich may also incorporate translucent or opaque surfaces. The object ofthe present invention is to improve devices of this nature so as toincrease the resemblance between the imitation fire and a burning coalfire without increasing its complexity and cost.

According to the invention, a reflector having a white matt surface isused in'conjunction with the source of light provided to give the eflectof combustion. This reflector is preferably located behind the source oflight and may be embossed or ribbed or otherwise shaped so as to makethe nature of the reflection somewhat irregular. Conveniently alsoflickenproducing devices of any suitable type areemployed to enhance theburning fuel eflect. The reflector is preferably comprised of aluminiumwhich has been treated by a frosting or similar process so as to have awhite surface as above mentioned. It will be understood that thoughaluminium is preferred, any suitable white metal similarly treated maybe employed or also non-metallic substances, though these mustpreferably be incombustible owing to their proximity to the source ofheat, when such a source is provided so that the fire may supply heat inaddi tion to simulating the appearance of a burning coal fire. The useof such a white reflector is found to give theappearance of smoke risingfrom the fire and'this enhances the live coal effect.

In the accompanying drawings a fire is illust-rated which shows oneexample of carry.-

ing the invention into'eflect.

The fire comprises a heating element HE supported on the front of thefire frame FF,

while inside the frame is a flicker device FD consisting of, forinstance, an electric lamp and a fan supported above the lamp whichrotates with the heated air. Holes in the flicker device and between theblades of the fan allow the light to pass in an upwards di rectionthrough the imitation fuel IF, which would be of some transparentcoloured glass, whether in the form of slabs or blocks, or the like. Thelight from the flicker device passes through the imitation fuel andstrikes against the curved reflector CR, from which again it is madevisible to the observer. It is the front of the curved reflector, thatis the side of the reflector upon which the flickering light falls,which is given a white matt surface, the curved reflector CR beingconveniently made of aluminium, which is frosted to make a matt surfaceon the front side. This white surface may be embossed or ribbed so as tomake the reflection irregular, and one way of doing this is shown in thedrawings in which the front of the reflector is given a rough irregularsurface by making indentationsI so that certain parts stand out withrelation to such indentations I.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. As anew article of manufacture, a reflector for imitation flicker-producingfires consisting of sheet aluminum having a white matt inner surface toform a reflecting background and having indented areas composed oflinesstruck into the body of the metal, the surface thereby reflectingthe flicker irregularly to simulate smoke issuing from the fire.

' 2. As a new article of manufacture, a reflector for imitationflicker-producing fires consisting of frosted sheet aluminum having awhite matt inner surface to form a primary reflecting background, andhaving a second ary reflecting background composed of indented areas ofaggregated lines struck into the body of the metal, the surface therebyrefleeting the flicker irregularly to simulate smoke issuing from thefire.

Intestimony whereof I have signed my name at Liverpool, England, this9th day of May, 1927.

CHARLES HERBERT ARCHER.

